Opening Long Sutton tanning studio is a career change for Naomi

Businesswoman Naomi Andrews is enjoying a career change - after swapping life as a plasterer to set up a tanning studio.

The mum-of-five has launched new venture called Red Hot with daughter Maddalyn after deciding on a total switch in direction.

“I enjoyed plastering and going on site. It was hard work but good fun,” said Naomi, 44, who was working at family-run DNA Plastering with husband Darren and sons Nathan and Alex.

“But it’s nice being in a warm shop rather than up cold scaffolding this time of year.

“I’m enjoying it. It’s nice meeting loads of different people.”

Suffering with arthritis led to Naomi making the decision to set up her new venture, based at Long Sutton’s Silverwood Centre.

“I couldn’t carry as much as I needed to,” she added.

“People say women are equal to men, and we are, but we can’t lift what men lift. I found that out on site.”

But, on the flipside, could Naomi’s husband and sons run a tanning salon?

“Definitely not,” she continued.

“My son came in after work to go on the sunbed with his work boots on. I was like, ‘are you serious?’”

Naomi is finding herself picking up a few extra shifts at present due to 17-year-old Maddalyn recovering from a recent motorbike collision, which left her with a broken thigh bone and fractured foot.

“She goes to college in Wisbech, doing a motorbike mechanics course a few days a week and we spoke about it, giving her something else to do on the days she didn’t go to college,” Naomi explained.

“We were going to share the hours but she can’t do that with me at the moment. She’s on the mend. It’ll be a long slog for her.”

Red Hot opened on March 2 and acts as a one-stop beauty shop.

“It’s going really well,” said Naomi, who lives in Sutton St Edmunds.

“We’ve been really busy and it’s been brilliant. We’ve had good feedback.

“It’s the case of getting the word out but its been good.”

Red Hot offers clients a lay-down or stand-up sunbed, plus ear piercings, B12 vitamin injections and beauty treatments.

Two other business share the salon.

Tiegan’s Beauty is run by Tiegan Thaxter, who will be offering lashes, brows, waxing, facials and nails.

The other business is Bronzed & Beautiful run by Paula Penn who will be offering spray tans.

Red Hot tanning studio is open Monday-Friday 10am-8pm and Saturday-Sunday 10am-4pm. Current offers are: £1- one minute, £15- 30 minutes and £20 - 40 minutes.